I saw a quick clip on The NFL Network this afternoon where they reported Ben missed Wednesday's practice and they showed him slowly riding a stationary bike with his leg wrapped up.

When they (reporter) asked Ben what was wrong with him he said "Ask Coach Cowher".
Maybe bringing Batch back had a little more meaning if Ben has an injury issue.
Anyone else see this??

I'm hoping that it's nothing to be concerned about.

RoethlisBURGHer

09-14-2005, 06:25 PM

Oh...shit.

SteelProven

09-14-2005, 06:30 PM

He alright he has a bruise bone, nothing that's gonna keep him out for a extended period of time.

Ambridge

09-14-2005, 06:41 PM

He alright he has a bruise bone, nothing that's gonna keep him out for a extended period of time.

That's good to hear.
When Ben said "Talk to Coach Cowher" I thought that it might have been something more serious.

SteelR1

09-14-2005, 07:20 PM

Hopefully everything will be okay!!!!

clevestinks

09-14-2005, 07:35 PM

NFL NETWORK just said that Ben has a swollen right knee. Nothing serious, allegedly? They said players were actually poking fun at Ben for sitting out of practice. keep the fingers crossed

steelersgirl86

09-14-2005, 08:52 PM

:hope: :hope: :sign08:

BlitzburghRockCity

09-14-2005, 10:40 PM

Just got my google alert and Ben is fine, he's probable, just a bruise so we're good to go as SteelProven mentioned.

ngreene15

09-14-2005, 11:47 PM

NFL NETWORK just said that Ben has a swollen right knee. Nothing serious, allegedly? They said players were actually poking fun at Ben for sitting out of practice. keep the fingers crossed

That's what I heard too... I think he just wants a day off.

TasmanianTroy271

09-15-2005, 12:28 AM

what? a truthful response about an injury from Cowher? can it be? :busted:

bigbensgirl7

09-15-2005, 12:43 AM

I'm keeping my fingers crossed it's nothing serious.

BlitzburghRockCity

09-15-2005, 12:53 AM

Yeah lets just hope its not the whole finger incident last year !!!

Suitanim

09-15-2005, 09:20 AM

He said "Ask Coach Cowher" because there was a little friction created between the 2 last year over Ben's injury status where Cowher was saying one thing, and Ben another...this is just the smart play for Ben...let the coach do the talking.

Prosdo

09-15-2005, 12:23 PM

Hoping it is nothing serious. I really don't want to see Ben out of action.

Ambridge

09-15-2005, 07:06 PM

After todays practice Ben was downgraded from Probable to "Questionable" for Sunday's game.

They showed a film clip of him on FSN Pittsburgh his leg was taped up and he had a very noticeable limp.

Suitanim

09-15-2005, 07:08 PM

After todays practice Ben was downgraded from Probable to "Questionable" for Sunday's game.

They showed a film clip of him on FSN Pittsburgh his leg was taped up and he had a very noticeable limp.

I have plenty of confidence in Maddox if he has to play...he looked sharp as Hell in camp, and with our running game, we can afford to go into max protect to help his lack of scrambling ability.

ngreene15

09-15-2005, 07:10 PM

I have plenty of confidence in Maddox if he has to play...he looked sharp as Hell in camp, and with our running game, we can afford to go into max protect to help his lack of scrambling ability.

It's something the whole offense will have to get used to because he is a different style QB than Ben.

Tommy sits in the pocket all day where Ben will scramble every now and then.

Ambridge

09-15-2005, 07:14 PM

I have plenty of confidence in Maddox if he has to play...he looked sharp as Hell in camp, and with our running game, we can afford to go into max protect to help his lack of scrambling ability.

It might be best to give Maddox the start and let Ben heal-up and get to 100%.
Letting Ben play could just aggravate his injury more.

Suitanim

09-15-2005, 07:27 PM

Ben had to scramble once in the last game I believe...and Tommy is not completely immobile back there.

I agree with Amb. Sit him now and get him healthy...we need him down the stretch. I want all our weapons healthy and ready to beat the Patriots...

clevestinks

09-15-2005, 07:54 PM

Rest hin now! Play him later.

Prosdo

09-15-2005, 10:03 PM

I have to agree. I rather give Ben rest this week and have him ready for the Patriots the next week. Although not sure how serious the injury is.

Koopa

09-15-2005, 10:07 PM

true true, maddox can handle the texans just fine, well nvm i don't know about that last time they played maddox scored for them twice i think. but if it ain't serious don't sit ben he needs all the reps he can get so he can be in good game shape against the pats.

I.C. Lights

09-15-2005, 10:56 PM

Maddox will be able to create enough pressure so that Parker can run all over 'em. Anyone up for another 168 yards?

BlitzburghRockCity

09-15-2005, 11:05 PM

Unless its really gonna be a major risk for him to be in there.. I say stick him in. He's still learning and needs every snap he can get to continue to improve. Players play w/ pain and injured all the time..so unless its gonna really impose on the way he plays and risk further injury, then yes keep him out and give Tommy every snap possible.. otherwise, let him in.

SteelProven

09-15-2005, 11:54 PM

Unless its really gonna be a major risk for him to be in there.. I say stick him in. He's still learning and needs every snap he can get to continue to improve. Players play w/ pain and injured all the time..so unless its gonna really impose on the way he plays and risk further injury, then yes keep him out and give Tommy every snap possible.. otherwise, let him in.

I totally agree with this while he may have a injury, what player isn't injured. If I remember correctly W. Parker was talking post-game how sore he was. I don't think this is nothing more than a pre-cautionary tatic. I really don't want to see Tommy "Turnover" Maddox. IMO

BlitzburghRockCity

09-16-2005, 12:08 AM

I have confidence that Tommy can get the job done, but when it comes right down to it, unless it's a definate huge risk that could force ben to miss alot of time...I dont want Tommy in there either. As I remember correctly he came into the giants game last year when Ben got clobbered and promptly threw an interception. He did have an ok game against the bills, but it wasnt anything to really write home about.

I know Tommy can play; we all saw him break passing records for us a couple years back, but please Ben, get healthy and take the bye week to rest up if at all possible.

BlitzburghRockCity

09-16-2005, 12:34 AM

The Steelers are preparing for the possibility of playing without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Sunday because a bone bruise in his left knee has been slow to heal.

Roethlisberger, who was injured in the opener against Tennessee, was downgraded to questionable yesterday and he took less than half of the snaps with the first-team offense at practice. Roethlisberger said he is taking it easy for precautionary reasons and expects to be in the starting lineup two days from now when the Steelers face the Texans in Houston.

"[Tommy Maddox] went a little bit more than [50 percent of the plays]," Roethlisberger said. "I'll be ready by Sunday. I'm just trying to take care of myself and make sure I'm healthy."

Steelers coach Bill Cowher was hoping Roethlisberger would be able to practice more than he did yesterday. He said the injury wasn't responding as quickly as hoped it would.

"There is not really any kind of setback," Cowher said. "He does have a bone bruise. It's just not responding as fast as I hoped, and his status is day to day."

Maddox could make his first start since the final game of the regular season against Buffalo last season. He was 12 for 24 for 120 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in that game. Maddox has played and thrived in a reserve role before. He came on for an ineffective Kordell Stewart four games into the 2002 season and held onto the starting job until the second game of last season, when he was injured against Baltimore. Roethlisberger performed so well in his place that Maddox remained on the bench until the regular-season finale.

here's the rest (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05259/572608.stm)

ironcitychef

09-16-2005, 12:37 AM

Few points...

One - injury reports are official from the head coach. There seems to be some bad blood in the NFL among coaches when players are given a grade on Thursday then presto are at a different level on Sunday. Sorta like a truth in advertising honesty system among coaches, thats why they don't like players commenting on it.
Two - Hurt vs. Injured. While he was held out today, I think by Sunday this will be a hurt problem and nothing to hold him out. Also, even though it was a 158.3 day, if you heard Cowher miked up on HBO Ben is still having trouble reading the correct coverage. He got rythm and confidence in week one. Why sit him this week and lose that momentum when technically the risk of getting injured this week at say 90-95% is about the sane as next week at 100%.
Three-Stop looking past the Texans. We need our best players on the field every week.

bigbensgirl7

09-16-2005, 08:36 AM

I agree, Ben needs the snaps and we can not look past anyone. This is going ot be a tough year...and every game is going to count. If we are looking at getting home field advantage throughout the playoffs we need to take every game seriously. We really need to take it one game at a time. Now if it is something that could jeopordize his status the rest of the season I say sit him...but if not, put him in!

rowedf

09-16-2005, 11:55 AM

I know it sounds totally whacked but I dont know if I want any home field advantage! I love it for the city and atmosphere it brings but I think we'd perform better on the road. My hearts been broke too many times at home in late January :(

BB2W

09-16-2005, 12:04 PM

Even though Roethlisberger returned to the practice field Thursday, Cowher said: "He has just not responded as quickly as I had hoped and his status is day-to-day."

In the locker room, Roethlisberger winked and said "I don't miss games." :wink02:

Koopa

09-16-2005, 12:22 PM

good i want him to be out there and get all the reps he can get cause he still has a lot to learn in this league and it's good to go up against different defenses. and plus if he sits it'll take longer for him to break brent favre starting record, lol

Prosdo

09-16-2005, 02:16 PM

Definitely want to see Ben out there. I have a lot more confidence in Ben then Tommy. Don't get me wrong Tommy is good, but I like how Ben plays.

clevestinks

09-16-2005, 03:03 PM

Ben is our qb, but if there is a chance of him getting worse before the NE game , then sit him now.

BlitzburghRockCity

09-16-2005, 06:25 PM

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=17459

Ben Roethlisberger practiced with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, but is still listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Houston.
Coach Bill Cowher said it likely would be a game-time decision. If Roethlisberger can't play, former starter Tommy Maddox will take his place.

Roethlisberger was held out Wednesday and Thursday with a bone bruise on his knee, and was downgraded from probable (75 percent chance of playing) to questionable (50 percent) by Cowher.

Roethlisberger, the 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, is 14-0 as a regular-season starter. He was hurt while throwing for two touchdowns in a 34-7 victory Sunday over Tennessee, but was pulled from the game because of the big lead rather than the injury.

The Steelers normally hold out any players who do not practice on Friday, so Roethlisberger's participation could be a sign he might be ready to play. He didn't practice Wednesday and had only limited work Thursday.

"The biggest thing is just make sure I'm ready to play for Sunday," Roethlisberger said. "I'll be ready by Sunday, hopefully."

Maddox began the 2004 season as the Steelers' starter, but injured an elbow during a Week 2 loss to Baltimore and was replaced for the next 13 games by Roethlisberger. Maddox started once more the rest of the season, a Jan. 2 game at Buffalo in which Roethlisberger was held out with a minor injury.

The last time Pittsburgh played Houston, in 2002, Maddox had two interceptions and a fumble returned for touchdowns as the Steelers lost 24-6 despite outgaining the Texans by nearly 400 yards.

BlitzburghRockCity

09-16-2005, 06:26 PM

Few points...

One - injury reports are official from the head coach. There seems to be some bad blood in the NFL among coaches when players are given a grade on Thursday then presto are at a different level on Sunday. Sorta like a truth in advertising honesty system among coaches, thats why they don't like players commenting on it.
Two - Hurt vs. Injured. While he was held out today, I think by Sunday this will be a hurt problem and nothing to hold him out. Also, even though it was a 158.3 day, if you heard Cowher miked up on HBO Ben is still having trouble reading the correct coverage. He got rythm and confidence in week one. Why sit him this week and lose that momentum when technically the risk of getting injured this week at say 90-95% is about the sane as next week at 100%.
Three-Stop looking past the Texans. We need our best players on the field every week.

We better not be looking past the Texans..we better not be lookin past anybody!! We need every win in every game we can get !!!

Suitanim

09-16-2005, 08:54 PM

I don't think anybody is looking past this game. Remember when we played the expansion Texans and completely dominated them defensively, and still LOST 24-7? I think they had less than 50 yards of offense, but they scored 3 times on defense...

I'm thinking big picture, and that always means error on the side of caution, especially early in what should certainly be a playoff season.

Koopa

09-16-2005, 09:16 PM

yup they had 47 total yards, and scored off two ints and a fumble all by maddox, and we had over 400 yards total offense then them and we lost 24 to 6, that was a ridiculous game, i almost broke my hand punching the shit out of the floor (i was young and went crazy when my teams would lose but now i just scream but i don't hit stuff, sometimes i feel like it but i control myself now) but now with willie running the ball we don't have to worry about to many passes and ben is a much better qb then maddox. hopefully taylor or townsend can handle andre johnson dude is a beast in the passing game.

SteelProven

09-16-2005, 10:42 PM

One of the Steelers biggest problems in the past was them playing to the level of the competiton. If that's the case Sunday then we are in for a long day. But if they come out aggressive and force the issue this game could be over before halftime.

Koopa

09-16-2005, 11:01 PM

hopefully it's over by halftime, i like grind it out games but only when it's with other teams, i want this to be quick and sweet so i can do my homework in peace